Bengaluru Police Rescue 114 Children in City-Wide Child Labour Crackdown

Bengaluru, Sept 12: Bengaluru police have rescued 114 children during a massive city-wide crackdown on child labour and launched proceedings against employers and establishments found employing minors, officials said on Saturday.

The enforcement drive was undertaken following Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's directive to police to take stringent action against the employment of children as labourers in the city.

In a coordinated operation, the Bengaluru City Police conducted 917 inspections across the eastern and north-eastern divisions, covering garages, markets, repair shops, hotels, bars, restaurants and other commercial establishments. A total of 71 children were rescued during these inspections.

In a separate operation, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) inspected 417 establishments under 67 police stations between 10 am and noon and rescued another 43 children.

The crackdown comes amid continuing concerns over the employment of children in hazardous and informal workplaces in Bengaluru.

Police have handed over the rescued children to the respective police stations for further action and are verifying their ages. North Division DCP Nyamagowda said employers found engaging children were being detained and subjected to detailed questioning.

Parents or guardians of the rescued children will also be summoned for inquiry, he said.

Police said FIRs would be registered against employers and organisations found violating child labour laws after completion of the age-verification process.

The inspections also found children allegedly working at petrol stations, garages and hotels in the northern parts of the city.

Officials said the large-scale operation sends a strong warning to establishments employing minors that such violations will invite criminal action.